Mandatory referendum is Aug. 13

By Ashley M. Casey

Associate Editor

The town of Salina is doing away with the position of receiver of taxes to save money. The town board voted June 10 to eliminate the position, and residents will vote on the issue Aug. 13.

Supervisor Colleen Gunnip said the most recent receiver of taxes, Alicia J. MacCollum, retired in April. She said MacCollum had worked for Salina for about 25 years and served as receiver of taxes for about 20 years.

“The town board in the last 11 years — we had talked about when she did retire that we wanted to look into consolidating the positions and having the town clerk’s office take over the duties,” Gunnip said. “By doing that, it would be more efficient for the town because both offices would be trained on how to collect taxes as well as how to do town clerk business, which is dog licenses, marriage licenses. There would be one office for all of that operation going forward.”

Gunnip said the current deputy tax receiver will become a deputy clerk and no one in town hall will lose their job. The town will look for seasonal employees to assist Town Clerk Jeannie Ventre with tax duties in the fall.

The move will save Salina about $100,000 a year.

The town board’s decision is subject to a mandatory referendum because tax receiver is an elected position. In Salina, town clerk has been an appointed position since 1933.

The referendum will be held from noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13, at Salina Town Hall, 201 School Road, Liverpool. The town will send out a postcard with information about the vote as it approaches.